Bag closure



J. W. CARTER Deg. 4, 1945.

BAG CLOSURE Filed D80. 24, 1942 INVENTUR. and 9x). Gama v, BY

0R/VE KS Patented Dec. 4, 1945 BAG CLOSURE Jack W. Carter,

Winter Haven, Fla., ass'ignor-to Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills, Atlanta, Ga. Application December 24, 1942, Serial No.'470,059

6 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to bag closures, but it more particularly is directed to a closure of the drawcord type for open mesh bags.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a drawcord so circumscribingly interwoven through the meshes of the bag adjacent its top and with portions in such relation that by pulling the ends of said cord closing of the bag and frictional locking of the said cord in tightened position is eifected.

An important object of this invention is the method of inserting a drawcord through the meshes of a bag and with portions in such relation with themselves as to elfect closing of the bag and locking of the cord in tightened bag closing position.

A further important object of this invention is the method of securing a drawcord to an open mesh bag adjacent its selvage in such a manner and with portions so interwoven with respect to the bag and so intertwined with respect to themselves, that pulling the ends of the cord closes the mouthof the bag andfrictionally and effectively locks the cord in bag closing and retaining position.

With these and other objects in View, which will become apparent as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the construction, combinationand arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters ofreference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 isa rear elevation of an open mesh bag. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing thebag filledwithits mouth closed and the drawcord in tightened and locked position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation showing portions of the drawcord in interwoven and intertwined relation. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 closing the mouth of the bag.

Closing the open end of filled open mesh bags and securing same in closed position has heretofore been attended with considerable time consuming difficulties and uncertain results. One of the prevalent methods has been to gather the upper end of the bag to efiect its closing and then wind a cord several times around the bunched material and tie the ends together. However, unless the cord is tied very tight and some distance below the selvage, a portion of the gathered material will be caused to slip, in course of handling, with a resultant spilling of the contents. Another method consists in employing a regular drawcord to close the mouth of the bag tied just as close as possible. Therefore, it was to overcome the above and other disadvantages by providing a drawcord closure interwoven in the bag adjacent its selvage',.thereby permitting as complete filling of thebag as possible, and with portions of the cord intermediate its ends arranged in such an interwoven manner with respect to the bag and such intertwined and frictional'arrangement with respect to themselves, that simply a pull applied to the opposite ends of the cord will draw the open mouth of the bag to closed position and effect a frictional lock of the cord in such tightened and bag closing position, that I designed the closure and method forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown an open mesh or leno type bag 5 comprising the woof strands 6, warp strands l and selvage 8, and a drawcord closure means 9. l

The drawcord or drawstring 9 is of a length sufticient to extend slightly more than one and one half times around the open end of the bag.

The drawcord 9 is secured to the bag 5 and operatively arranged by interlacing through the meshes of the bag at one side adjacent to the selvage, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and which constitutes the single cord portion iii. The remaining portions II and I2, respectively, are, with. respect to the side of the bag opposite to that of cord portion H), interwoven in opposite directions and are intertwined with respect to each other, portion ll terminating at one edge of the bagin the free end It and portion I2 at the other edge in the free end I4. I The drawcord portions II and I2 substantially throughout the width of the bag, except at the edges where thefree ends l3 and [4 lead oli, and where the number ofstrands may vary, the respective portions are interlaced or interwoven with respect to six strands (Fig. 4) but in staggered relation, so that every alternate three strands will be enclosed between the portions, and as to each remaining alternate three strands both portions II and I2 in common and in frictional intertwined relation will overlie their alternate opposite'surfaces.

In the interest of clarity the spacing of the portions H and I2 is purposely exaggerated and it will be understood that when the ends 13 and I4 are pulled to take up the slack an intertwined portion IE will overlie each of the bag strand groups [6 on one surface of the bag and the alternate groups ll on the other or innersurface. Also, the drawcord 9 is preferably of a different material and of a larger size or cross sectional area than the strands 6 and l of the bag material, and a type of drawcord that has proven very satisfactory is one constructed of a plurality of cotton yarn strands. When the ends l3 and I4 have been drawn in opposite directions sufiiciently to take up the slack the general appearance of two cords entwined to form a single cord is effected, and the frictionally engaged contact surfaces are much greater in extent and naturally not so abrupt as shown in Fig. 4. It may be noted that the portions ii and I2 may, if desired, be further intertwined as at depend ing: upon the particular operating requirements as to, bag and cord materials, sizes, and so forth.

When the drawcord 9, is attached to an open mesh bag as above described, the mouth of the bag. is. closed by pulling or drawing the ends l3 and M" in opposite directions and which effects bringing together into compressing relation groups of the bag strands and the groups into compressing relation and forming a unitary group, as shown in Fig. 2.

The drawcord means as interwoven and intertwined permits movement of the cord and the intertwined portions with respect to themselves, in efiecting closing of the mouth of the bag, without appreciable frictional restraint. And when pulling force is applied to the. ends of the cord. the interwoven strands of the bag material are compressingly confined and groupingly gathered. intoscontacting relation and into a unitary closure. assembly (Fig. 2) so that when the cord ply pulling its free ends, and without necessitating the tying of any knot or knots whatever.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing andreferred to in the above descriptions as the preferred embodiment is the most eflicient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Havingthus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1'. A drawcord closure for the mouth of an open mesh bag comprising a single length of cord interwoven in said bag with portions of the cord intermediate its ends extending in opposite directions and including overlying portions on the inner and outer surfaces of the bag wall and in staggered relation, said overlying portions being alternately interconnected in a manner such, that a pull applied to opposite ends of the cord will draw the open mouth of the bag to a closed position and effect a frictional lock of the cord in tightened bag closing position without tying and securing the ends of the cord,

2. A drawcord closure for themouth of anopen mesh bag comprisin a cord i ntervowevn'with groups of the; strands of the bag and withportions of said cord intermediate its ends extending in opposite; directions and including a series of overlying stretches on the inner and {outer surfaces of, the bag wall and in staggered relation, said overlying stretches being so intertwined with themselves, that a pull applied to opposite endsof said cord will, in course of gathering the material into a unitary compressed assembly closing the bag mouth, ,formgroups of the, interconnected has reached its limitin tightening direction not only. is said gathered structure bound together Y and locked y the frictionally intertwined porti ns. H. and. 2. bu a h. n ned e t n i constitutes for its strand assembly an individual friction lock, so that a number of smaller interconnected groups within the main or primary group body are frictionally locked. It will thus be apparent that a P1 11 or strain on any group will tend to tighten the adjacent lock or looks, and therefore such structural arrangement constitutes a. multiple or compound friction lock rendering it practically impossible to open the mouth of the'bag once it is closed, except by a severance of the drawcord, or by taking time to disengage the respective entwined portions and pulling them back to their normal position, notwithstanding that to'efiect closing and locking the mouth of the bag it is only necessary to pull the free ends of the cord in tightening direction.

It will be apparent that I have provided a simple method and closure means for effecting closing the mouth of an open mesh bag of any suitable weave or material, and frictionally locking the bag closed and the'closure means in looking position, without appreciably adding to the production cost, the closure means having freedom of movement in bag closed and locking direction b t incapable of becoming detached and lostwhen not in use, said closure'cord being instantly operable to tightened locking position to effect a positive permanent friction look by sim- Str nds. of said mat rial. a d ffect a fricti l lock for each group in. frictionally locking; said unitary assembly, whereby the mouth of the bag will be drawn to closed position and locked in such position. with the opposite ends of the cordin untied relation. I

3. A drawcord closure-for the mouth of. an open mesh bag comprising a. cord interwoven with strands of one side of: an open mesh bagand with, portions of said cord intermediate. itsends extending in opposite directions interwovenin staggered relation with. groups of the connected strands of the remaining side of the bagiand forming alternate. overlying portions on. opposite surfaces of said last mentioned side, said-overlying portions being interconnected in such amanner, whereby. a pull applied to opposite .endsof the cord closes saidmouth of the bag and. bindingly compresses said strand groups into a unitary group locking each group and the unitary group in bag closing relation with the opposite ends of the cord in untied relation; 1 f i 4; A drawcordclosure for themouthof anopen mesh: bag having. opposedsideswherein thewarp and woof strands are substantially spaced apart and comprising a. cord witha portion; intermediate its. length interwoven with. the strand of one side of the bag,,the remaining portionsofisaid cord interwov n, n. pp s t dir' p ons instasgered relation and. in altern te. twi ted. elation on pposite. surfaces of the ppo te s deso the bag in such a manner that, spaced, groupsof strands alternately pposite urfacesoi the last named side of the bag will be confined between said cord portions and the groups of strands separating the confined groups alternately on opposite sides of said opposite side of the bag will be non-confined, whereby a simultaneous pull applied to opposite ends of the cord will gather and bindingly compress the strand groups into a unitary group closing said mouth and locking it in such position with the opposite ends of the cord in untied relation.

5. A drawcord closure for the mouth of an open mesh 'bag having opposed sides wherein the warp and woof strands are substantially spaced apart and comprising a cord with a portion intermediate its length interwoven with the strands of one side of the bag, the remaining portions of said cord interwoven in opposite directions in staggered relation and in alternate twisted relation on opposite surfaces of the opposite side of the bag in such a manner that spaced groups of strands alternately on opposite surfaces of the last named side of the bag will be confined between said cord portions and the groups of strands separating the confined groups alternately on opposite sides of said opposite sid of the bag will be non-confined, whereby a simultaneous pull applied to opposite ends of the cord will gather and bindingly compress the strand groups into a unitary mouth closing group, the twisted interconnected portions of said cord constituting individual locks for the respective confined groups and a compound lock for the unitary group with the free ends of the cord in untied relation.

6. A drawcord closure for the mouth or an open mesh bag having opposed sides, said bag having its warp and woof strand substantially spaced apart and comprising a cord with a portion intermediate its ends interwoven with one side of the bag and the remaining portions interwoven in opposite'directions alternately with respect to adjacent groups of strands of the other side of the bag in such amanner that a portion of the strands of each group alternately will be confined between the cord portions, while both cord portions in intertwined relation will in common overlie the alternate opposite surfaces of the nonconfined strand portionsof said groups, so that a pull applied to opposite ends of the cord will bindingly compress the strands of the confined groups and tend to draw them toward each other and compressing a number of the non-confined groups therebetween and at the same tim draw all of the groups into an intermeshing unitary closure group assembly, the intertwined portions locking, the respective confined groups and constituting a compound lock for the unitary groups, whereby the mouth of the bag will be drawn to closed position and locked in such position with opposite ends of the cord in untied relation.

JACK W. CARTER. 

